Festival La Gacilly-Baden Photo 2026

Last week I travelled to Austria for the opening of Festival La Gacilly-Baden Photo 2026, where I’m delighted to be exhibiting as part of this year’s programme.

Running from 12 June to 11 October 2026, the festival transforms the historic spa town of Baden bei Wien into one of Europe’s largest open-air photography exhibitions. Large-format photographic works are displayed throughout the town’s gardens, streets, and public spaces, creating a unique opportunity to experience photography outside the traditional gallery environment and in direct conversation with the landscape.

I was fortunate enough to exhibit at Festival La Gacilly in France last year and was completely blown away by the scale, atmosphere, and quality of the exhibitions. To have my work included once again within this remarkable festival, this time in Austria, is a real privilege.

This year’s experience has been particularly special because of the venue itself. My work is being exhibited in Heiligenkreuzerhof, one of Baden’s oldest buildings. In the history of the festival, only two photographers have ever been invited to exhibit in this remarkable space, and I am honoured to be the second.

The building has stood largely empty for around 30 years, and you can feel that as soon as you walk through the doors. Worn, quiet, and full of character, it proved to be an unexpectedly perfect setting for work that explores abandoned places and the passage of time.

There was something satisfying about finally getting access to a derelict building to install photographs of derelict buildings. The irony certainly wasn’t lost on me.

One of the highlights of the opening weekend was seeing visitors move through these rooms again, engaging with both the architecture and the photographs. The building and the work seemed to enter into a conversation with one another, allowing visitors to experience both in a new way. It was wonderful to see this unique and often overlooked space receiving attention once more.

The opening weekend itself was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with friends, meet photographers from around the world, and spend time immersed in an ambitious and inspiring programme of exhibitions. It was also a privilege to hear Sir Don McCullin speak about his extraordinary life and work during a tour of the festival exhibitions.

If you’re planning a trip to Austria this summer, I highly recommend adding Baden to your itinerary. The festival offers an exceptional opportunity to experience world-class photography in a setting unlike any other.

Exhibition Information

Festival La Gacilly-Baden Photo 2026
12 June – 11 October 2026

Venue:
Heiligenkreuzerhof
Brusattiplatz 2
2500 Baden bei Wien
Austria

Opening Hours:
Daily, 9am – 6pm